Humidity wears on Jefferson Theatre

Updated 5:45 pm, Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, Photo Editor

A netting underneath the Jefferson Theatre ceiling has been installed to catch any possible plaster that may fall. Renovations to the rear and front parts of the ceiling have been made. Plans for the middle section's repair are underway. Photo taken Monday, February 20, 2017 Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise

A netting underneath the Jefferson Theatre ceiling has been...

The Jefferson was jumpin' this past weekend with movie lovers and concert goers, but that's not the reason a net stretches across much of the theater ceiling.

That net is meant to catch bits of loosened plaster that might fall onto the heads of patrons at the downtown Beaumont venue.

The net is there out of an abundance of caution, said Lenny Caballero, director of the City of Beaumont's event facilities department.

From left, Judy Railroad, Helga Lopez, Poogie Lindow and Walter Doiron add letters to the marque at the Jefferson Theatre on January 30, 1987. The marque had been newly renovated at the time. Enterprise archive photo less

From left, Judy Railroad, Helga Lopez, Poogie Lindow and Walter Doiron add letters to the marque at the Jefferson Theatre on January 30, 1987. The marque had been newly renovated at the time. Enterprise archive ... more

Beaumont's Jefferson Theatre in August of 1976. Enterprise archive photo

Beaumont's Jefferson Theatre in August of 1976. Enterprise archive photo

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UNITED STATES - MARCH 22: Interior detail of the Jefferson Theatre, an elegantly restored theater in Beaumont, Texas (Photo by Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

UNITED STATES - MARCH 22: Interior detail of the Jefferson Theatre, an elegantly restored theater in Beaumont, Texas (Photo by Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

Photo: Buyenlarge/Getty Images

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UNITED STATES - MARCH 22: Interior detail of the Jefferson Theatre, an elegantly restored theater in Beaumont, Texas (Photo by Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

UNITED STATES - MARCH 22: Interior detail of the Jefferson Theatre, an elegantly restored theater in Beaumont, Texas (Photo by Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

Photo: Buyenlarge/Getty Images

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UNITED STATES - MARCH 22: Interior detail of the Jefferson Theatre, an elegantly restored theater in Beaumont, Texas (Photo by Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

UNITED STATES - MARCH 22: Interior detail of the Jefferson Theatre, an elegantly restored theater in Beaumont, Texas (Photo by Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

Photo: Buyenlarge/Getty Images

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UNITED STATES - MARCH 05: Ornamental details in the Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont, Texas (Photo by Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

UNITED STATES - MARCH 05: Ornamental details in the Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont, Texas (Photo by Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

Photo: Buyenlarge/Getty Images

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Melinda and Darrell Carroway cheer as they enjoy the performance by the Liverpool Legends Beatles Tribute Band Wednesday night at the Jefferson Theatre. The band made a return to Texas, bringing the sights and sounds of the Fab Four to the Beaumont stage. The group, whose members were hand-picked by Louise Harrison, sister of the late George Harrison, have performed to critical acclaim at venues throughout the world, including half time at the 2014 Rose Bowl, the Boston Pops, Carnegie Hall, and the Abbey Road Studios in London. The group performed numbers spanning the history of the Beatles, including solo work by members of the group after their disbanding. Photo taken Tuesday, February 7, 2017 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Melinda and Darrell Carroway cheer as they enjoy the performance by the Liverpool Legends Beatles Tribute Band Wednesday night at the Jefferson Theatre. The band made a return to Texas, bringing the sights and ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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The marquee lights dazzle before the showing of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" starring Jim Carrey at the Jefferson Theatre on Friday night. The theater will show "Elf" on Dec. 9 and "A Christmas Story" on Dec. 16. Photo taken Friday 12/2/16 Ryan Pelham/The Enterprise less

The marquee lights dazzle before the showing of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" starring Jim Carrey at the Jefferson Theatre on Friday night. The theater will show "Elf" on Dec. 9 and "A Christmas ... more

Photo: Ryan Pelham

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Honorees and attendees pour into the theater for the program start during the Southeast Texas Young Professionals Organization's annual 40 Under 40 honoree celebration Tuesday at the Jefferson Theatre. Forty area young professionals under 40-years-old were recognized for their merits in professional achievement and community involvement. The SETX YPO is a professional organization for those between 20 and 40-years-old looking to network with other young professionals and gain involvement in community service. Photo taken Tuesday, November 15, 2016 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Honorees and attendees pour into the theater for the program start during the Southeast Texas Young Professionals Organization's annual 40 Under 40 honoree celebration Tuesday at the Jefferson Theatre. Forty ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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Honorees and attendees fill the lobby to enjoy a social hour during the Southeast Texas Young Professionals Organization's annual 40 Under 40 honoree celebration Tuesday at the Jefferson Theatre. Forty area young professionals under 40-years-old were recognized for their merits in professional achievement and community involvement. The SETX YPO is a professional organization for those between 20 and 40-years-old looking to network with other young professionals and gain involvement in community service. Photo taken Tuesday, November 15, 2016 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Honorees and attendees fill the lobby to enjoy a social hour during the Southeast Texas Young Professionals Organization's annual 40 Under 40 honoree celebration Tuesday at the Jefferson Theatre. Forty area ... more

The Jefferson Theatre's movie screenings has become increasingly popular since its inception. The venue has at times filled the room and grown to include specific genres to be played at the historic building. Photo taken Friday, September 17, 2016 Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

The Jefferson Theatre's movie screenings has become increasingly popular since its inception. The venue has at times filled the room and grown to include specific genres to be played at the historic building. ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, Photo Editor

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The Jefferson Theatre's movie screenings has become increasingly popular since its inception. The venue has at times filled the room and grown to include specific genres to be played at the historic building. Photo taken Friday, September 17, 2016 Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

The Jefferson Theatre's movie screenings has become increasingly popular since its inception. The venue has at times filled the room and grown to include specific genres to be played at the historic building. ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, Photo Editor

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Brianne Jones and Jonah Cherry walk into the Jefferson Theatre on Friday to watch a screening of Titanic. Popularity of the venue's movie screenings has grown to include specific genres and at times comes close to filling the room's 1,400 seats. Photo taken Friday, September 17, 2016 Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

Brianne Jones and Jonah Cherry walk into the Jefferson Theatre on Friday to watch a screening of Titanic. Popularity of the venue's movie screenings has grown to include specific genres and at times comes close ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, Photo Editor

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Foreign film and music movie nights

Enjoy a spin on the city’s Classic Movies Nights with these genres. Foreign films will be shown once a month and music films will be shown weekly.

Guests enjoy the Titanic at the Jefferson Theatre during Classic Movie Night on Friday. Popularity of the venue's movie screenings has grown to include specific genres and at times comes close to filling the room's 1,400 seats. Photo taken Friday, September 17, 2016 Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

Guests enjoy the Titanic at the Jefferson Theatre during Classic Movie Night on Friday. Popularity of the venue's movie screenings has grown to include specific genres and at times comes close to filling the ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, Photo Editor

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Guests socialize as they await the start of "The Godfather" at the Jefferson Theatre. The event is part of the theater's Classic Movie Night series.
Photo taken Friday, January 9, 2015
Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Guests socialize as they await the start of "The Godfather" at the Jefferson Theatre. The event is part of the theater's Classic Movie Night series.
Photo taken Friday, January 9, 2015
Kim Brent/The ... more

As for the humidity, the region hasn't had much of a chance to dry out for the past year, recording 70-plus inches of rain in 2016 and getting a good head start on that amount so far in 2017.

Friday classic movie nights will go on uninterrupted, and Caballero and his crew will continue to book live acts at the theater in the foreseeable future, he said.

Did you know?

All four of the City of Beaumont's main venues were in use this past Saturday, said Chris Clark, the Civic Center's operations coordinator.

At the Jefferson, Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt packed the house. The Symphony of Southeast Texas and country star Tracy Byrd played a "pops" concert to a sold-out crowd at the Julie Rogers Theatre. A Hurricane Pro Wrestling event drew an audience to the Civic Center, and a couple celebrated a wedding at the Event Centre.

"For right now, until they tell me otherwise, we'll keep going," Caballero said, who has led the event facilities department for almost four years.

In that time, he launched Classic Movie Night and worked to bring in live music, raising the city's profile to draw more nationally known acts.

The reclaiming of the 90-year-old theater began in 1998 with the organization of the Jefferson Theatre Preservation Society, which raised $6.5 million to restore the building. The Jefferson cost $1 million to build in 1927. Between 1986 and 2000, Beaumont Community Players, Beaumont Junior Forum and the Charlie Pruitt country music show kept the theater open.

In September 2000, renovation began in earnest and the revived theater reopened in November 2003, featuring jazz, pop and soul singer Lou Rawls.